Patents Examined by Andrew Nguyen
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Patent number: 9517847Abstract: A magnetically enhanced micro-cathode thruster assembly provides long-lasting thrust. The micro-cathode thruster assembly includes a tubular housing, a tubular cathode, an insulator, an anode and a magnetic field. The tubular housing includes an open distal end. The tubular cathode is housed within the housing and includes a distal end positioned proximate the open distal end of the housing. The insulator is in contact with the cathode forming an external cathode-insulator interface. The anode is housed within the housing, proximate the open distal end of the housing. The magnetic field is positioned at or about the external cathode-insulator interface and has magnetic field lines with an incidence angle of about 20 to about 30 degrees and preferably about 30 degrees relative to the external cathode-insulator interface.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2014Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: The George Washington UniversityInventors: Michael Keidar, Alexey Shashurin, Tai Sen Zhuang
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Patent number: 9518965Abstract: A fuel system (12) comprising a vapor trail detection sensor (20) configured to generate a first signal (28) which indicates the optical depth of a vapor trail (35). A control unit (40) is provided responsive to the first signal (28) and configured to generate a second signal (80) in dependence upon the first signal (28). The second signal (80) defines a percentage of at least one of a first fuel composition and second fuel composition required to produce a resultant fuel composition. At least one regulator (42) is provided configured to receive and be responsive to the second signal (80) and regulate the percentage of first and second fuel composition required to produce the resultant fuel composition.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventor: Peter Swann
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Patent number: 9511873Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing noise generated during operation of an engine. In one illustrative embodiment, a nozzle system comprises a first nozzle and a second nozzle at least partially surrounded by the first nozzle. An outer surface of an aft portion of the second nozzle has a shape configured such that a radial cross-section of the outer surface of the aft portion of the second nozzle has a curve that is different from at least one other curve for another radial cross-section of the outer surface of the aft portion of the second nozzle and such that an axial cross-section of the outer surface of the aft portion of the second nozzle has a wavy shape.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2012Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: Vinod Govind Mengle
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Patent number: 9506404Abstract: An assembly including a protection device and an element of a turbine engine for protecting, for example, an oil tank including a magnetic particle detector, the protection device including a flexible protection blanket placed on and closed around the element for protecting and including eyelets that are engaged on fastener studs provided on the blanket or on the element for protecting. The protection device further includes at least one cable carrying an attachment mechanism for attaching to the fastener studs to prevent the studs being withdrawn from the eyelets in the blanket.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2012Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Philippe Fardel, Georges Cousseau, Denis Barthelemy, Joel Roudil
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Patent number: 9500369Abstract: A fuel nozzle and a method for operating a combustor are disclosed. The method includes flowing a fuel and an oxidizer through a fuel nozzle, the fuel nozzle comprising an inner tube, an intermediate tube, and an outer tube each configured for flowing one of the fuel or the oxidizer therethrough. At least one of the inner tube, the intermediate tube, or the outer tube includes a plurality of swirler vanes. The method further includes imparting a swirl to the fuel and the oxidizer in the fuel nozzle, and exhausting the fuel and the oxidizer from the fuel nozzle into a combustion zone.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2012Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Predrag Popovic, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, William Thomas Ross, Vladimir Belvaev
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Patent number: 9500371Abstract: A device for injecting air and fuel into a combustion chamber of a turbine engine, the device including a fuel injector, at least one first element mounted on the fuel injector, and at least one second element mounted on an end wall of the combustion chamber. The first element includes a radial rim that is movable in a radial groove of the second element, which groove is defined by a sheath and by a closure ring welded to an inside of the sheath. The closure ring includes a radial wall and a cylindrical rim extending from the radially outer periphery of the radial wall towards a radial wall of the sheath and bearing via its corresponding free end against the radial wall of the sheath.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Jacques Marcel Arthur Bunel, Frederic Marius Mathieu, Gilles Ulryck
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Patent number: 9500127Abstract: The power plant includes a gas turbine unit adapted to feed flue gases into a diverter where they are divided into a recirculated flow and a discharged flow. The recirculated flow is fed into a mixer together with fresh air to form a mixture that is fed to the gas turbine unit. The gas turbine unit includes a combustion chamber where a fuel is burnt together with the mixture. A control unit is provided, that is supplied with information regarding the fuel C2+ and/or H2 content and is connected to at least the diverter to drive it and online regulate the recirculated flow mass flow rate in relation to the fuel C2+ and/or H2 content.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2011Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBHInventors: Stefan Rofka, Frank Sander, Eribert Benz, Felix Güthe, Dragan Stankovic
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Patent number: 9482106Abstract: A combustor transition can be adapted to guide combustion gases in a hot gas flow path extending between a combustor and a first stage of a turbine in a gas turbine. The combustor transition includes a duct having an upstream end adapted for connection to the combustor and a downstream end adapted for connection to a first stage of the turbine. The downstream end comprises an outer wall, an inner wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. At least one side wall has a side wall extension, which can extend in a downstream direction beyond the outlet. A gas turbine can be retrofitted with such a combustor transition and a gas turbine with such a combustor transition can also undergo a borescope inspection.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBHInventors: Michael Düsing, Mirko Ruben Bothien
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Patent number: 9482182Abstract: The invention concerns an actuating device (1) for moving a mobile cover of a thrust reverser, comprising: an actuator (5) comprising a first element (10), such as a screw, and a second element (12), such as a nut, mounted mobile device relative to the first element (10) such that the rotation of the first element (10) results in a translational movement of the second element (12) relative to the first element (10), and a locking device (31) comprising a rotating part (34) linked in rotation with the first element (10), and a locking part (35) that is mobile relative to the rotating part (34) between a locked position in which the locking part (35) is engaged with the rotating part (34) to prevent the first element (10) from rotating and an unlocked position in which the locking part (35) is disengaged from the rotating part to allow the rotation of the first element (10), and an electromagnet (39) for moving the locking part (35) to the unlocked position.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignees: SAGEM DEFENSE SECURITE, AIRCELLEInventors: Christophe Bastide, Franck Delnaud, Mickael Werquin, Nicolas Planquet, Pascal Coppee, Rinaldo Fadini, Pierre Moradell-Casellas
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Patent number: 9476362Abstract: An assembly including an intermediate case of a bypass turbojet engine and of an inter-jet case extending upstream of the intermediate case to separate a primary air jet of the turbojet engine from its bypass air jet, the inter-jet case including, passing through it, a closable duct for diverting part of the primary flow to the bypass flow thereby forming a blow-off valve for the LP compressor, the intermediate case including arms passing across the bypass flow and the inter-jet case in its internal cavity including a first chamber situated upstream of the arms and a second chamber situated level with the arms, the duct being open or closed off by an annular component capable of axial movement set in motion by an arm that can rotate about a fixed pivot under action of a control cylinder, the cylinder being positioned in the second chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2012Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: SNECMAInventor: Emmanuel Patsouris
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Patent number: 9470148Abstract: A Brayton cycle heat engine includes a compressor, a combustion chamber, and a turbine. The Brayton cycle heat engine also includes a heat exchanger positioned at least partially within the combustion chamber. The heat exchanger is configured to deliver thermal energy to the combustion chamber from an external source, heating air entering the combustion chamber from the compressor, where the air exits the combustion chamber and drives the turbine.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2012Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Inventor: Virgil Dewitt Perryman, Jr.
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Patent number: 9463417Abstract: Methods and systems for CO2 separation in low emission power plants are provided. One system includes a gas turbine system that combusts a fuel and an oxidant in the presence of a compressed recycle stream to provide mechanical power and a gaseous exhaust. A purge stream is taken from the compressed recycle stream and directed to a CO2 separator configured to absorb CO2 from the purge stream using a potassium carbonate solvent. Volatiles are removed from the rich solvent by stripping or by flashing to an intermediate pressure before the rich solvent is regenerated and CO2 is removed.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Russell H. Oelkfe, Richard A. Huntington, Franklin F. Mittricker
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Patent number: 9459009Abstract: Colorless distributed combustion (CDC) reactors or green combustion gas turbine combustors having a combustion chamber are presented for improved performance of gas turbine combustion engines. The combustors are configured and designed for providing a superior pattern factor (uniform thermal field in the combustion zone) and a reduction or complete elimination of pollutants emission from the combustor (i.e., zero emission gas turbine combustor) and uniform thermal field in the entire combustion zone to provide significantly improved pattern factor. Colorless distributed combustion is achieved with fuel and air entering the combustion chamber via one or more injection ports as non-premixed, or premixed. Rectangular, cylindrical, stadium and elliptical shaped combustors are presented with injection ports and exit ports located in various locations of the combustors.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLANDInventor: Ashwani K Gupta
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Patent number: 9447712Abstract: Hybrid internal detonation-gas turbine engines incorporating detonation or pulse engine technology (such as an internal detonation engine), and methods of manufacturing and using the same are disclosed. The internal detonation engine includes a detonation chamber having a fuel igniter therein, a stator at one end of the detonation chamber having at least a first opening to receive fuel, a rotor adjacent to the stator, and an energy transfer mechanism configured to convert energy from igniting or detonating the fuel to mechanical energy. The detonation chamber and fuel igniter are configured to ignite or detonate a fuel in the detonation chamber. Either the stator or the detonation chamber has a second opening to exhaust detonation gas(es). The rotor has one or more third openings therein configured to overlap with at least the first opening as the rotor rotates.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Inventor: Brent Wei-Teh Lee
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Patent number: 9440851Abstract: An on-board Flex-Fuel H2 Generator provides devices and the methods of operating these devices to produce H2 and CO from hydrocarbons and bio-fuels. One or more parallel autothermal reformers are used to convert the fuels into H2 over the Pt group metal catalysts without external heat and power. The produced reformate is then cooled and the dry gas is compressed and stored in vessels at a pressure between 1 to 100 atmospheres. For this system, the pressure of the storage vessels and the flow control curves are used directly to control the amount of the reformers' reformate output. To improve thermal efficiency of a mobile vehicle or a distributed power generator, a portion of the reformate from the storage vessels is used to mix with the primary fuels and air as part of a lean burn fuel mixture for the engine/gas turbine.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2013Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
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Patent number: 9435540Abstract: An apparatus for injecting premixed fuel and air through a center body and into the combustion zone of a gas turbine includes a fuel injector nozzle with a premix pilot nozzle having a plurality of premix passages in fluid communication with an air supply and a fuel supply that premixes air and fuel within the premix passages. The apparatus has either an active or passive fuel feed control. Fuel can be fed to the apparatus either conventionally or as a breech load circuit integrated into the oil cartridge. Fuel can be supplied passively via a fuel channel connecting the swozzle fuel plenum to the premix passages. Alternatively, fuel can be injected from the oil cartridge into the premix passages.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2013Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Michael John Hughes, Kara Johnston Edwards
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Patent number: 9435292Abstract: A turbine engine exhaust nozzle includes a core gas duct, a nozzle duct, and a thrust vectoring duct system having a duct valve, a first vectoring duct and a second vectoring duct. The nozzle duct directs a first portion of core gas from the core gas duct through a nozzle duct outlet along a centerline. The duct valve connects the core gas duct to the first vectoring duct during a first mode of operation, and connects the core gas duct to the second vectoring duct during a second mode of operation. The first vectoring duct directs a second portion of core gas from the core gas duct through a first vectoring duct outlet along a first trajectory. The second vectoring duct directs a third portion of core gas from the core gas duct through a second vectoring duct outlet along a second trajectory that is angularly offset to the first trajectory.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2012Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Wendell V. Twelves, Jr.
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Patent number: 9429032Abstract: A combustor transition adapted to guide combustion gases in a hot gas flow path extending between a can combustor and a first stage of turbine in a gas turbine is disclosed. The combustor transition includes a duct having an upstream end adapted for connection to the can combustor and a downstream end adapted for connection to a first stage of a turbine, wherein the downstream end includes an outer wall, an inner wall, a first and a second side wall. At least one side wall has a side wall extension which extends in a downstream direction beyond the outlet. The side wall extension at least partly encloses a first resonator volume and at least one side wall extension includes a resonator hole, which is configured as a neck of a Helmholtz-damper. A method for retrofitting a gas turbine and method for borescope inspection of a GT are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2013Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBHInventors: Mirko Ruben Bothien, Michael Düsing
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Patent number: 9416974Abstract: The present application provides a combustor. The combustor may include an air flow path with a flow of air therein. A flow obstruction may be positioned within the air flow path and cause a wake or a recirculation zone downstream thereof. A number of fuel injectors may be positioned downstream of the flow obstruction. The fuel injectors may inject a flow of fuel into the air flow path such that the flows of fuel and air in the wake or the recirculation zone do not exceed a flammability limit.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Kaylor Toronto, Kwanwoo Kim, Abdul Rafey Khan, Luis Flamand
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Patent number: 9416662Abstract: A system for providing cooling for a turbine component that includes an outer surface exposed to combustion gases is provided. A component base includes at least one fluid supply passage coupleable to a source of cooling fluid. At least one feed passage communicates with the at least one fluid supply passage. At least one delivery channel communicates with the at least one feed passage. At least one cover layer covers the at least one feed passage and the at least one delivery channel, defining at least in part the component outer surface. At least one discharge passage extends to the outer surface. A diffuser section is defined in at least one of the at least one delivery channel and the at least one discharge passage, such that a fluid channeled through the system is diffused prior to discharge adjacent the outer surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Victor John Morgan, Benjamin Paul Lacy